Joseph Hyman was worried in the days leading up to his appearance today at the courthouse in New Brunswick, but not because of a pending offense, costly litigation or contentious divorce.

For Hyman and his wife Grace, of Edison, today meant they became parents for the first time.

"We went from no kids to three kids in five days," said Hyman, recalling when he and his wife received their three foster children in July 2008.

He said he was nervous for the past few days because, "I was afraid something would happen to stop the proceedings."

The newest members of the Hyman family were among 23 children adopted by 16 families today at Middlesex County’s celebration of National Adoption Day at the county courthouse in New Brunswick. About 220 foster children will be adopted in New Jersey this week when National Adoption Day is celebrated in 12 counties, said Lauren Kidd, spokeswoman for the state Department of Children and Families, one of the event’s sponsors. The celebrations began Nov. 12 in Ocean County and will conclude Saturday in Essex County.

So far this year, Kidd said, about 960 foster children have been adopted, not including the 220 this week.

As of the beginning of November, there were 1,456 children involved in the state’s child welfare system who were legally free for adoption and 8,327 children in foster care, Kidd said.

Janet Carter, a retired school teacher, was anxiously looking forward to today.

Today was the day her adoption of 3-year-old Lauren became final. Carter has cared for Lauren since she was 8 days old.

"We’ve been waiting for this day for three years and four months," said the Milltown resident who has two grown biological sons and two teenage daughters adopted as young girls in the Ukraine. "We just kept praying to God that all would work out right. It’s going to be a great Thanksgiving this year."

Superior Court Judge Travis Francis, the assignment judge in Middlesex County, called today "the happiest day of the year in the courthouse."

Robert Sciarrino/The Star-LedgerThree-year-old Faith holds onto her adoptive mother, Karen Schley as they are greeted by Fred Brown, Western Middlesex Adoption Supervisor today in New Brunswick.

It was the third annual celebration of National Adoption Day in Middlesex County.

"The Middlesex County Courthouse is not known for a lot of positive things," Francis said at the opening ceremony. "It is usually where people come to settle disputes. Today is not a day for disputes. It is about joining families together."

The hallway outside Francis’ courtroom on the second floor was festooned with balloons and gifts for the children and their families. In a nearby conference room, toys, coloring books and crayons were on the table, waiting for the kids.

Rosaline Shau’s two new children, Chia-hao, 14, and Yuchen, 13, were not in foster care, but were adopted from another country.

"My daughter, (Elaine, 15) was an only child and always wanted siblings," said Shau, of Edison. "But that wasn’t my only incentive to adopt. I wanted to help other kids and provide them with a better life in a better environment."

For Brenda Brown of Edison, today meant Brendan, 1, and Beau, 2, officially became a permanent part of her family.

"When you have foster children, you love them, but you never know when the parents might want the children back," said Brown, who had the boys from the time they were about 5 weeks old. "But today, they’re officially mine."

Hyman and his wife wanted children for years and tried to adopt, but the adoptions fell through.

Now that Charlie, 2, Ruby, 3, and Yoana, 6, are legally adopted, he said, "I can finally relax."